Changwon LG completely defeats defending champion KCC in the opening game of the professional basketball season... Proof of winning candidate

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Tae-yong = Changwon LG showed off its power as a contender for the championship by defeating defending champion Busan KCC in the opening game of the 2026-2027 KCC professional basketball season.

LG, ranked first in the regular season last season, defeated KCC by a large score of 103-68, led by new foreign players Archie Goodwin and Yang Hong-seok, in the official opening game held at Sajik Gymnasium in Busan on the 3rd.

Goodwin scored 25 points, including three 3-pointers, and Yang Hong-seok scored 22 points to lead the team to a complete victory.

Assem Marey scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, keeping the goal strong.

LG, which was evaluated as lacking in offense compared to its solid defense, gained wings in attack with Goodwin's addition.

Goodwin scored 16 points in the second quarter alone, contributing to LG taking the lead in the first half by 53-30.

Yang Hong-seok, who had performed poorly after returning to the team midway through last season after completing military service, revived the team atmosphere with a cool mid-range shot.

Yang Hong-seok changed his uniform number, 4, which he wore last season, to 11, which he wore when he was good at basketball, and strengthened his resolve.

KCC was left with a huge gap between Choi Jun-yong and Song Kyo-chang, who left the team to advance overseas.

New foreign player Louis King scored 18 points, the most on the team, and Sean Long added 13 points, but was unable to stop LG's wave of attacks.

Last season's runner-up team, Goyang Sono, defeated Daegu Korea Gas Corporation 82-73 in the home game held at Goyang Sono Arena thanks to the performances of Johnny O'Bryant (26 points) and Kevin Kempao (16 points).

Trailing 75-69 with 3 minutes and 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Sono ran away with O'Bryant's two-point shot and increased the score with scores from Kembao and Scotty James.

Sono's guard Lee Jeong-hyun, who won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, helped the team win by scoring 9 points and providing 5 assists.

In the game held at Anyang CheongKwanJang Arena, Anyang CheongKwanJang beat Ulsan Hyundai Mobis' last-minute chase and won 88-85.

CheongKwanJang's new foreign player, John Mooney, led the team to victory by recording 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists.

CheongKwanJang, which led 51-45 in the first half, widened its lead further in the third quarter.

Cheongkwanjang, where Mooney and Rashawn Thomas scored alternately, entered the fourth quarter with a 74-65 lead.

With 8 minutes and 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Mooney received a pass from Byun Jun-hyung (14 points) and connected with an alley-oop dunk, putting Jeong Kwan-jang up 81-65.

Hyundai Mobis counterattacked by trailing to 81-85 with Park Moo-bin's 3-pointer and Cho Han-jin's free throw.

23.1 seconds before the end, Jo Han-jin succeeded in a layup following a steal, making it 85-87 and looking for a comeback.

However, Cheong Kwan Jang opened the gap by three points with Moon Yoo-hyeon's free throw, and Hyundai Mobis was unable to tie the score as Darius Beasley (20 points) and Lee Woo-seok (9 points) missed outside shots one after another in the last attack.